More cell phone towers going up in New Hanover, Pender

Sunday

Jun 16, 2013 at 8:40 PM

Southeastern North Carolina is starting to see some expansion by cellular providers to meet the increased demand.

By Jason GonzalesJason.Gonzales@starnewsonline.com

The proliferation of smartphones in hand means cell towers overhead. It's an inevitable truth about the nation's cellphone addiction.And Southeastern North Carolina is starting to see some expansion by cellular providers to meet the increased demand, as a handful of cellphone tower companies in recent months have sought permits in Pender and New Hanover counties.The towers are built by infrastructure companies, such as Dave Herring's SCI Towers, which then lease space to providers including Verizon Wireless and AT&T."We do what we do to provide for multiple providers," Herring said. "We provide enough space for ... cohabitation."Herring recently withdrew a special use permit for a tower in Pender County and is set to build one near Gordon Road.But permits for two other towers are being considered in Pender County, and two others were approved in May, said Kyle Breuer, planning director.He noted he hasn't seen applications for towers in a few years, and both planning directors from New Hanover and Brunswick counties said the same.The number of permits recently applied for in New Hanover County were not available.Herring said companies don't build unless there is a demand for a tower and a cellphone provider has expressed interest in a location."It's not whole lot different than a retail business," he said. "We see the demand, we go out, we work the site and find an anchor tenant,"However, the increase is not linked to a demand for more 4G LTE coverage, according to Verizon spokeswoman Karen Schulz."4G LTE does not require new cell towers," she said. "We upgrade the towers we already have (with) new software and new wires." 4G runs on a lower transmitting signal — 700 megahertz — than 3G so it can actually reach more customers than its predecessor, Schulz added. "It's not a matter of more cell towers to get more coverage on 4G LTE," she said. Instead it's about capacity, Herring said.Sites such as the Gordon Road tower are high cell traffic areas, he said, citing the number of houses and traffic near there as reasons for installing a new tower.Herring said all those cell phones won't work without the infrastructure.

He added he doesn't see that changing, with so many people using smartphones and other wireless devices for every piece of their lives."That is really why we're seeing these towers going into places they haven't traditionally gone," he sai